Weekly Parsha

This Week Torah Study is still open for sponsorship.

Thank you for participating in this event by sponsoring a portion of the Torah to eveyone. May HaShem HaKadosh Baruch Hu Bless you in every way.

Let's pray for the "Refuah Shleima" (speedy recovery) of " our community". May G-d deliver us from this crisis speedily and grant a complete recovery to those who are ill, Amen!

Prayer List

"Seth (Stephen) ben Sarah"
"Sarah (Virginia) bas Anna (Agnes)"
"Eli Raphael (Ali Rafael) ben Leah (Luiza)"
"Adira (Heidi) bas Sarah"

Torah Portion

This Shabbat is Shemini Atzeret, the concluding Yom Tov of the Sukkot holiday. We read Deuteronomy 14:22 -16:17 which includes the topics of: tithing crops, remission of loans during the Shemitah year, to be warm-hearted and open handed to the destitute, Jewish bondsman, Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, going to Jerusalem for Shelosh Regalim, the three pilgrimage festivals - Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot - with offering to celebrate the festivals.

Sunday, October 11th (saturday evening), is Simchat Torah. We read V'Zot HaBracha to complete the Book of Deuteronomy and thus the whole Torah. This Torah portion begins with the blessing of Moshe, right before he dies, for the Jewish people and each tribe. Then Moshe ascends Mt. Nebo, where the Almighty shows him all of the land the Jewish people are about to inherit. He dies, is buried in the valley in an unknown spot, and the Jewish people mourn for 30 days.

The Torah then concludes with the words, "Never again has there arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Almighty had known face to face ..." and then we start again the yearly cycle of reading the Torah with the reading of Bereishit, Genesis!

* * *

The Torah states regarding helping the poor:

"You shall surely open your hand unto him and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need which he lacks." (Deut 15:8)

What are the details of this mitzvah, commandment?

We are told that we must give charity to a poor person. What if the person doesn't want to take it? Then give the person the money as a present or a loan.

It is a positive commandment to give charity to the needy with happiness and a good heart. The mitzvah of giving tzedakah (charity) does not only apply to giving aid to the poor. To aid a wealthy person when he needs assistance is also a fulfillment of the mitzvah of tzedakah. Furthermore, whenever you give pleasure to others, whether it be through money, food, or comforting words, you fulfill this mitzvah. The Rambam (Moshe Maimonedes) writes that he never saw or heard of a city in which there lived ten Jews that did not have a charity fund (Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 9:3).

The word used for charity is tzedakah, which literally means "righteousness" or "justice." This term illuminates the Torah's concept of charity. It is not merely a charitable act to give to the poor; it is the obligation of every single person to do the right thing, the just thing.

Everyday we receive phone calls, emails and text messages from people requesting prayer for the sick, and or money to help with the funeral, or money for transportation, food, utilities, etc.

We can only help people if we work as a community.

Stop Judging People. Stop Sabotaging Yourself. Do Your Part.

Anyone can find fault with others. True greatness is to see the good points of others. Because no one gossips about other people's secret virtues.

***

And they spoke unto Moses, saying: 'The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.' (Exodus 36:5)

Are you bringing enough to G-d? 

When we give to others, we access the infinite power of our soul to reach beyond our limited self and enter the world of another human being. Generosity also brings a sense of fulfillment and inner happiness. Those who find it difficult to give (even with a good excuse) risk becoming self-absorbed and egocentric.

***

"And this is the blessing, wherewith Moshe, the man of G-d, blessed the Children of Israel before his death." (Deuteronomy 33:1)

Why is Moshe called "the man of G-d" in this verse?

Moshe was not called 'the man of G-d until he spoke in defense of the Jewish people. Moshe pointed out the loyalty of the Jewish people to G-d in verses 33:3-4 - that the Jewish people cleave to the Almighty even in times of adversity and are loyal to the teachings of the Torah transmitting them to our children.

The scriptures teach us to support your spiritual leader. Not only your Rabbi but whoever speaks out in defense of the people (needy) is elevated (a man of G-d).

When we give, we actually receive more than we gave. What we have given might be necessary, but it is finite. What we receive is the gift of sensitivity. That is priceless and infinite, and we can share it with the rest of the world.

When we are in a position to assist someone else, we are not behaving altruistically by giving away something that is rightfully ours. Rather, we are doing justice, by dispensing the money that G‑d entrusted to us in the way that He desires.

Supporting the Rabbi giving Tzedakah is actually a cycle — the gifts that we give to others will eventually return to us. Furthermore, G‑d is acutely tuned in to our small acts of goodness and kindness. Our acts of giving stimulate G‑d's blessings to shower down upon all of us, the giver and the receiver alike.

The greatest happiness you can have is
knowing that you do not necessarily
require happiness.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and a Good Yom Tov. May Klal Yisrael be blessed with a good year in every way!  

May the New Year ahead be filled with genuine closeness to Hashem, the long-awaited footsteps of Mashiach and the elevation of all of Am Yisrael to a Yom SheKulo Shabbat!

My special thanks to all who have helped support Weekly Studies this past year. You may still donate and send your contribution to Am Israel Chai Tzedakah Fund. Please contact Rabbi Tank or click HERE to donate below:

The wise man seizes the opportunity to do mitzvot" (King Solomon). The lazy person says -- someday I'll do it.

Covid won't stop our learning 

We are excited to announce the American Jewish College FREE Learning Program. Please contact Rabbi Tank WhatsApp number +1 (917) 834-4770 to let him know that you want to join the English, French, Spanish or Portuguese group.

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